Press

FROM THE CANALS OF VENICE TO THE NYC SKYLINE, SCULPTURIST LORENZO QUINN'S WORK REMINDSUS THAT ART IS NOT

ONLY DECORATION

A long the Williamsburg water-front, a new symbol of unity is taking shape. United Hearts, a monumental sculpture by acclaimed artist Lorenzo Quinn, will soon anchor the pedestrian heart of Williamsburg Wharf, a 3.75-acre master-planned development by Naftali Group. It marks not only a bold addition to New York's public art landscape but also a personal return for Quinn - an artist whose earliest creative dreams were shaped by this city.

Born in Rome and raised in the worlds of art and cinema, Lorenzo Quinn first trained as a painter at the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York before finding his voice in sculpture. Known globally for transforming simple human gestures into soaring works of public art, Quinn has created installations across Venice, Doha, London, and beyond, always infusing monumental scale with emotional intimacy. His choice of hands as a central motif reflects a belief in the universal language of gesture - one that can communicate hope, unity, and resilience without the need for words.

At Williamsburg Wharf, United Hearts continues that tradition. Two immense hands rise together, intertwining to form a heart, set against sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline. For Quinn, the project carries profound personal meaning. "I was originally a New Yorker, so it's coming back home, and I've dreamt of doing that for a long time," he reflected. New York's cultural dynamism - where "nobody is a stranger, and everybody's a stranger" - pro-vided the perfect backdrop for a sculpture celebrating connection.

Public art, for Quinn, is a powerful dialogue between artist and community. Once unveiled, a work becomes part of the landscape and the collective memory of a place. United Hearts is designed not

simply to be viewed, but to be lived with - to serve as a destination, a meeting point, a shared symbol of belonging. In imagining the life of the sculpture, Quinn envisions people gathering around it, even celebrating milestones like weddings under its arching forms.

Williamsburg Wharf itself is a reflection of this ethos. Designed with seamless integration between public and private spaces, the development offers not just luxury residences but parks, cultural spaces, and waterfront access - an environment where an artwork like United Hearts can thrive. The sculpture's site-specific nature mirrors Quinn's belief that public art must resonate with its surroundings, fitting organically into both the physical space and the emotional fabric of the community.

Though Quinn's works have grown in scale over the years, the emotional threads running through them remain consistent. His sculptures speak to love, connection, and shared humanity - ideals he believes are more essential than ever. As he put it, "You can only beat hate with love, and we need a lot of it." With United Hearts, Lorenzo Quinn offers New York a new monument, not just to the city's skyline, but to its spirit. It is a work that invites not only admiration but participation, crafted for the people who will pass by, gather beneath it, and make it their own.